I caught up with a good friend last week, someone I used to work with back when I was in sales. When I asked him how things were going (he still works with the same company), he wasn’t too cheerful.
“I’m miserable,” he said. “As a company, we no longer take great care of our customers. And I’m no longer empowered to fix customer issues, which makes it extremely difficult when you’re working hard to build customer loyalty.”
I feel for him. Yet it’s these types of stories that remind me of how good I have it.
As a freelance professional, I get to make the rules. I can provide excellent service and value to my clients. I don’t need to ask permission to make something wonderful happen.
I also set my own hours every week. I can work from my patio when the weather is nice. I can work out of a coffee shop if I need a change of atmosphere. And I don’t have to deal with a boss who discourages taking time off.
Yes, life is good when you’re a freelancer…and I’m thankful for that.
In fact, I’ve come to the realization that the more thankful I am, the more great things I seem to attract.
Not sure how I discovered this. I only remember that one day I decided to add “gratitude” to my morning routine. Rather than focusing on the things I didn’t have, I began to focus on what I DID have. A loving family. Good health. Freedom and liberty. A beautiful home. A wealth of opportunity.
Not long after that, my career took off. Things began falling into place. A few years later, I launched a freelance business. And I was able to leave my full-time job without missing a beat.
I’m not the only who believes in the power of gratitude. As I looked more into this, I found out that all the great thinkers, philosophers and prophets throughout history made gratitude one of the cornerstones of their teachings.
I realize that this may sound hokey to some — I’m a pretty skeptical guy myself. But I guarantee you that if you start making gratitude a way of life, things will only get better for you. You’ll attract more of what you really want.
And you’ll truly become a wealthy freelancer.
We all have much to be thankful for. So if you’re not doing so already, start expressing that deep sense of gratitude today and every day. And let me know how things improve for you.
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Ed Gandia is the co-editor of The Wealthy Freelancer and publisher of the biweekly newsletter, The Profitable Freelancer. To get a free copy of his report, 7 Steps to Landing More Lucrative Freelance Projects visit www.TheProfitableFreelancer.com.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Ed, great post! It is directly aligned with everything I teach, and I believe a habit of gratitude makes you a magnet for positive energy and even more positive results in your life. Great meeting you at the Freelance Forum. Love your energy and am loving this blog too!
~Monica
Hi Monica.
Thanks for your comments! You’ve further reinforced my belief that a big reason people achieve success (both financial and non-material) is their deep sense of gratitude for the wonderful things and people they have in their lives.
Hope to hear from you again soon!
-Ed
Ed, thanks for this article. I personally believe that having an ‘attitude of gratitude’ is a baseline for success. I take time in early, quiet hours of the morning to think about and appreciate my life, and again at night. I can attest to the fact that once you start making a practice of this, the positive effects spill over into all areas of your life. GREAT topic!
Great article Ed about making thankfulness a key part of the freelance life. I agree that having an attitude of thankfulness is very important as we consider our past and future. I encourage anyone to try taking a look at the challenges you have faced, the growth you have experienced by way of these challenges, and finally the valuable lessons you’ve learned. I believe that all of our experiences (be they considered good or bad) are purposeful and that in the larger picture of our journey, there is no such thing as a “bad” experience. Hopefully this will bring much encouragement for the challenges that lie before you now. In both big and small challenges, give thanks for the opportunity of having the experience, the lessons that await you, and the blessings of growth you will realize. It’s something to embrace, not run away from.
Gratitude can also be thought of as a form of mindfulness. As a culture, we’re so conditioned to focus on some as-yet-unattained future that we forget to live our lives in the moment. Taking time to be aware of and grateful for what exists (whatever exists) can be powerfully grounding. I think it’s one of the cornerstones of a truly happy life.
Brian – I couldn’t agree more! This is something I struggle with — living in the moment. Sounds easy, but I think many of us have a hard time with it. Been listening to Jon Kabat-Zin’s work recently (Mindfulness for Beginners). I’ve found it helpful. Thanks for your comments!